Harnessing Nuclear Energy - UWSP
Harnessing Nuclear EnergyStudents simulate a nuclear chain reaction and readabout how a nuclear reactor works.Grade Level: 5–8 (9–12)Subject Areas: EnglishLanguage Arts, Mathematics,ScienceSetting: Classroom, outdoors,or large spaceObjectivesStudents will be able to: explain how energy is obtained from nuclear fission; compare controlled and uncontrolled nuclear chain reactions; describe how a nuclear reactor uses nuclear energy to produceelectricity; and formulate an opinion about using nuclear energy.Time:RationalePreparation: One hourActivity: Two 50-minute periodsUnderstanding how energy is obtained from nuclear fission and how itis used to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant teaches studentshow some of the electricity they use is produced.Vocabulary: Atom,MaterialsBoiling water reactor, Chainreaction, Containment building,Control rod, Coolant, Element,Enrichment, Fission, Fuelassembly, Isotope, Kinetic energy,Moderator, Neutron, Nuclearenergy, Nucleus, Plutonium,Potential energy, Pressurevessel, Pressurized water reactor,Radiation, Radioactive decay,Radioactivity, Reactor, UraniumMajor Concept Area: Development of energyresources Copies of Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Chain Reactions Scrap paper or small, light biodegradable objects such as popcorn Stopwatch or clock with second hand Marbles (for each group) Copies of How a Nuclear Power Plant Operates Copies of Facts about Nuclear Energy (optional) Find additional resources related to this activity onkeepprogram.org Curriculum & ResourcesBackgroundSee the background information in Nuclear Fission and Nuclear ChainReactions and How a Nuclear Power Plant Operates. Additionalinformation may be found in Facts about Nuclear Energy.ProcedureOrientationAsk students what they know about nuclear energy. Record theircomments on the board or elsewhere. Ask students to label eachcomment as “fact” (true), “fiction” (false), or “don’t know.”Review basic atomic terms such as atom, nucleus, neutron, radioactivity,and molecule with the class. Draw a diagram of an atom on the boardand have students identify its parts. You may want to draw a simplifiedversion of a uranium-235 (U235) atom, showing its nucleus surroundedby electrons. List the number of protons (92) and neutrons (143) byHarnessing Nuclear EnergyTheme 2: Developing Energy Resources1Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Programkeepprogram.org
the nucleus, and the number ofelectrons (92) by the area wherethey orbit the U235 nucleus (seeU235 Atom diagram).U235 Atom92 Protons143 Neutrons92 ElectronsSteps1. Divide the class into pairsand have them read NuclearFission and Nuclear ChainReactions and answer thequestions (see Read andExplain Pairs for a suggestedreading comprehensionstrategy). Select pairs to sharetheir answers with the class.Encourage students to raiseother questions about thereadings.2. Tell students they are goingto model a nuclear chainreaction. Take the classoutside or to a large openarea. Inform studentsthey each represent a U235nucleus. Provide each studentwith two pieces of scrap paperand tell students to wad thepaper into small balls (or giveeach student two kernels ofpopcorn). The paper ballsrepresent neutrons.very quickly. This reaction produces a very hightemperature all at once and results in an actionmuch like an atomic bomb. Controlled reactions last longer than uncontrolledreactions. They usually start small, speed up slowly,and reach a constant, sustained level of reaction.3. Have students stand in threeor four rows about an arm’s length from each other.Tell them that you will start by throwing your paperwads into the air. Students who are hit by a paperwad have been bombarded with a neutron, and theymust split off their own neutrons by immediatelytossing their two balls of paper into the air. Studentsare to throw the paper wads randomly (not aiming atanyone).6. Ask students if they think their paper-throwingdemonstration represented a controlled or uncontrolledreaction. How would they arrange themselves tosimulate a more controlled reaction? Have them collectthe papers and try out their suggestions, and comparethe results to the previous demonstration.4. Note the time and throw your papers into the air.When the paper balls stop flying, note the time again.Also count the number of students that did not“react” or who were not hit with paper.7. After students have returned to the classroom andto their seats, have them read How a Nuclear PowerPlant Operates (see Read and Explain Pairs). Selectpairs to share their answers with the class.5. Discuss controlled and uncontrolled chain reactions. Uncontrolled reactions occur when fissionablematerial is concentrated and all of it reactsHarnessing Nuclear EnergyTheme 2: Developing Energy Resources2Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Programkeepprogram.org
ClosureRelated KEEP ActivitiesAsk students to review their earlier comments aboutnuclear energy and to re-classify their comments as “fact,”“fiction,” or “don’t know.” Discuss whether their initialunderstanding was based on popular misconceptionsabout nuclear energy. Ask them how they would respondto such misconceptions in the future (see Assessment).Conduct the appliance survey in the activity “At Watt Rate?”to orient students how to use electricity in the home.Students can learn more about nuclear power plants inWisconsin through the activity “Fuel That Power Plant.”The activity “Advertising Energy” can be used to analyzepublic relations strategies employed by electric utilities.Follow this activity with “Dealing with Nuclear Waste.”Further investigations of different types of resources canaccompany this activity. Have students simulate electricitygeneration in “Electric Motors and Generators.”AssessmentFormative Did students work cooperatively to read the material? How accurately did students answer questions fromthe reading assignments?CreditsActivity adapted from New York Energy Education Project.“Harnessing Nuclear Energy” pp. 4–1 to 4–21 in FossilFuels: Student Activities from the New York EnergyEducation Project. Albany, N.Y.: The Research Foundationof the State University of New York on behalf of the NewYork Energy Project, 1985. Used with permission of theNew York Science, Technology and Society EducationProject (NYSTEP). All rights reserved Can students demonstrate an uncontrolled and acontrolled nuclear chain reaction using wads of paper?SummativeHave students identify reasons why they would or wouldnot want their electricity generated from nuclear energy.What else would they need to find out before makingtheir choice?Activity adapted and diagrams of nuclear reactor, boilingwater reactor and pressurized water reactor from U.S.Department of Energy. pp. 61–65, 69–72, and 94–95in The Harnessed Atom: Nuclear Energy and Electricity.Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Energy, 1986.DOE/NE-0072. Used with permission. All rights reserved.ExtensionAn alternative to the paper throwing activity is tohave students set up dominoes. Dominoes that arearranged close together when knocked over illustrate anuncontrolled reaction. Challenge students to set up thedominoes so that they simulate a controlled reaction.Point Beach Nuclear Power PlantSource: Nextera Energy ResourcesHarnessing Nuclear EnergyTheme 2: Developing Energy Resources3Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Programkeepprogram.org
Students throwing wads of paper demonstration adaptedfrom “Small But Powerful: Nuclear Power,” pp. 5–8in Florida Middle School Energy Education Project:Energy Bridges to Science, Technology, and Society.Tallahassee, Fla.: State of Florida for the Florida EnergyOffice, 1994. Used with permission. All rights reserved.Read and Explain PairsIt’s often more effective to ask students to read assigned material in cooperative pairs than individually. Theexpected criterion for success is that both members be able to explain the meaning of the assigned materialcorrectly. The task is for the pairs to ascertain the meaning of each section and the assigned material as awhole (a “section” is text covering a specific topic and introduced by a section heading shown in bold type). Thecooperative goal is for both members to agree on the meaning of each section, formulate a joint summary, and beable to explain their answer.Here’s How It Works1. Assign a high reader and a low reader to be a reading pair, telling them what specific pages (passages) thatyou want them to read.2. Students read all section headings for an overview.3. Students silently read the first section and then take turns acting as summarizer and accuracy coach. Theyrotate roles after each section.4. The summarizer outlines in her own words the content of the section to her partner.5. The accuracy coach listens carefully, corrects any misstatements, adds anything that was left out, and explainshow the material relates to something they already know.6. The students then move on to the next section and repeat the procedure. They continue until they haveread all assigned material. At that point, they come to an agreement on the overall meaning of the assignedmaterial.During the lesson, systematically monitor each reading pair and assist students in following the procedure. Toensure individual accountability, randomly ask students to summarize what they have read so far. Remind studentsthat there is intergroup cooperation—whenever it is helpful, they should check procedures, answers, and strategieswith another group, or if they finish early, they should compare and discuss answers with another group.Adapted from Johnson, David W., Roger T. Johnson, and Edythe J. Holubec. “Read and Explain Pairs” pp. 66–67 in Cooperative Learning in theClassroom. Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Copyright 1994 ASCD. Used by permission. All rightsreserved. 2020 Wisconsin Center for Environmental EducationThe Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program is supported through funding from4
Nuclear Fission andNuclear Chain ReactionsIntroductionOne of the greatest scientific discoveries of the twentieth century is that nuclei of uranium atoms can be splitby neutrons to produce large quantities of energy. This process, called nuclear fission, brings to mind thelarge-scale production of electricity by nuclear power plants and large-scale destruction by nuclear weapons.In order to understand how nuclear fission can produce such large amounts of energy, we must begin bylooking at uranium.Characteristics of UraniumUranium is one of the elements found in nature. An element is a substance made entirely of the same kindof atoms, with each atom having the same number of protons and electrons. Every uranium atom has 92protons in its nucleus and 92 electrons orbiting the nucleus. However, not every uranium atom is completelyalike. Different uranium atoms have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei. These variations ofuranium atoms are called isotopes. Many other elements besides uranium have isotopes as well. The isotopeof uranium used to produce nuclear energy is uranium-235 (abbreviated as U235). It is called U235 becauseeach atom has 92 protons plus 143 neutrons in its nucleus, which totals 235 protons and neutrons. Anotherimportant uranium isotope is uranium-238 (U238), which has 92 protons and 146 neutrons in its nucleus(92 146 238). An atom of U238 has three more neutrons in its nucleus than an atom of U235 does. Theforces that hold protons and neutrons together in uranium isotopes are unstable. When the forces that holdan isotope together are broken energy, in the form of radioactive gamma waves, similar to x rays, is released.Therefore, another characteristic of uranium is that it is radioactive.Energy from Nuclear FissionFor nuclear fission to occur, the nucleus of a uranium atom has to be split somehow. This splitting is done withneutrons. Most neutrons travel at low speeds. Such neutrons have the right amount of energy needed to splitU235. On the other hand, only neutrons traveling at very high speeds have enough energy to split U238 nuclei, andthey are rare. Therefore, fission occurs much more easily with U235 than it does with U238.A neutron colliding with a U235nucleus splits it into two smallernuclei of other elements and,depending on the nuclei that areformed, releases two or threeneutrons. For example, a U235nucleus might be split into thenuclei of the elements bariumand krypton, and release threeneutrons. Splitting anotherU235 nucleus might producethe elements lanthanum andmolybdenum and only twoneutrons. These and otherelements produced by fission areradioactive.Harnessing Nuclear EnergyTheme 2: Developing Energy ResourcesNucleusproducedby fissionHeat energyand radiationNeutronNeutronU235 Nucleus5Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Programkeepprogram.org
Nuclear Fission andNuclear Chain ReactionsWhen the total mass of the U235 nucleus before fission, plus the neutron that splits it, is compared to thetotal mass of the two smaller nuclei and the neutrons after fission, a small amount of mass is missing. Thisfinding is true no matter what combination of nuclei and neutrons is produced. Where did the missing massgo? Einstein’s famous equation E mc2 solves the mystery—the missing mass was converted into energy(see E mc2: How Nuclear Fission Produces Energy). The energy stored in the form of mass in the nucleus,plus energy stored in the bonds that hold neutrons and protons together, is called nuclear energy. This is aform of potential energy. The energy released after fission occurs is observed as motion of the split nucleiand neutrons (kinetic energy) and released heat (thermal energy).E mc2: How Nuclear Fission Produces EnergyTo see how nuclear fission produces energy, let’s look at one of the possible fission reactions for a singleU235 nucleus. The reaction can be written as follows:0n1 92U235 fi56Ba141 36Kr92 30n1 energyA neutron (0n1 ) hits a U235 nucleus, splitting it into a barium nucleus (56Ba141) and a krypton nucleus(36Kr92). Three neutrons (30n1) plus a certain amount of energy are also released. When the total massof the neutron and the U235 nucleus before fission is compared to the total mass of the barium, krypton,and three neutrons after fission, a small amount of mass turns out to be missing.The amount of missing mass and the energy released by this reaction can be calculated. Since atomicnuclei are very small, it is more convenient to express their mass in units called atomic mass units(amu) rather than in pounds or kilograms (one amu is equal to one-twelfth of the mass of C12, the mostcommon form of carbon atom).The total mass of the neutron and the U235 before fission is:23592U 235.04393 amu (atomic mass units)10n 1.00867 amutotal 236.05260 amuThe total mass of the barium, krypton, and the three neutrons after fission is14156Ba 140.91436 amu9236Kr 91.92627 amu3 0n1 3.02601 amutotal 235.86664 amuTo find the decrease in mass, subtract the total masses of the barium, krypton, and three neutrons fromthe neutron and the U235.Decrease in mass total mass before fission - total mass after fission 236.05260 amu - 235.86664 amu 0.18596 amuHarnessing Nuclear EnergyTheme 2: Developing Energy Resources6Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Programkeepprogram.org
Nuclear Fission andNuclear Chain ReactionsE mc2: How Nuclear Fission Produces Energy Continued.Next, use Einstein’s equation E mc2 to calculate the amount of energy equal to the decrease in mass.To do this, the mass must first be converted from amu to kilograms.0.18596 amu 1.66 x 10-27 kg 3.09 10-28 kg1 amuThe amount of energy produced is equal to m, the decrease in mass (in kilograms), multiplied by c2, thesquare of the speed of light (in meters per second).E mc2 (3.09 x 10-28 kg) x (3 x 108 meters/sec)2 (3.09 x 10-28 kg) x (9 x 1016 meters/sec2) 2.78 x 10-11 kg.meter2/sec2 (and since 1 joule 1kg.meter2/sec2) 2.78 x 10-11 joules x1 Btu1.06 x 103 joules 2.64 x 10-14 Btu of energy per U235 nucleusSplitting one U235 nucleus produces 2.64 x 10-14 Btu of energy, an amount that can barely be measured.On the other hand, the amount of energy released by fission of one pound of pure U235 is extremelylarge. One pound of pure U235 contains 1.18 x 1024 atoms* of U235. Assuming every atom undergoesfission according to the reaction given earlier, the energy released is:2.64 10-14 Btu 1.18 1024 atoms of U235 3.11 1010 Btu per pound of U235atom of U235pound of U235* 453.59g x 1 mole U235 x 6.02 x 1023 atoms U235 1.18 x 1024 atoms U2351lb235g1 mole U235This is equal to the energy contained in 1,244 tons (1,264 metric tons) of bituminous coal, 249,000gallons (942,565 liters) of gasoline, or 2,600 tons (2,642 metric tons) of wood.This amount is slightly smaller than the average amount of energy released by fission of one poundof U235. Other fission reactions may produce nuclei like germanium, lanthanum, strontium, xenon, andzirconium instead of barium and krypton, along with only two instead of three neutrons. Producingdifferent fission products yields slightly different amounts of energy per split U235 nucleus. Whenaveraged, the energy produced by fissioning one pound of pure U235 is equal to 3.5 x 1010 Btu.Nuclear Chain ReactionsThe energy released by a single U235 nucleus is too small to have any practical purpose. To produce a largeamount of energy, a large number of U235 nuclei have to be split. This happens when neutrons releasedfrom a split U235 nucleus go on to fission other U235 nuclei. This reaction produces additional neutrons, whichcause more fissions, which release still more neutrons to cause even more fissions, which release even moreneutrons, and so on. The result is known as a chain reaction.Harnessing Nuclear EnergyTheme 2: Developing Energy Resources7Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Programkeepprogram.org
Nuclear Fission andNuclear Chain ReactionsAn uncontrolled chain reaction releases large amounts of energy quickly. This kind of chain reaction allowsnuclear weapons to create large explosions. A controlled chain reaction releases energy more slowly andsteadily. Nuclear power plants are designed to produce controlled chain reactions that release steadyamounts of energy for producing electricity.The average concentration of uranium in ore mined from Earth is about 0.11 percent; the rest of the ore ismade up of other minerals. Of the total amount of uranium, 99.3 percent is U238 and 0.7 percent is U235.A chain reaction is not possibleNucleuswith such low concentrations ofproduced235235U , so the percentage of Uby fissionneeds to be increased. This is doneby first using chemical processesthat remove the uranium fromthe ore after mining, and thenU235 Nucleusincreasing the percentage of U235in the uranium using a processcalled enrichment. In nuclear powerNeutronplants, a mixture of three percent235238U and 97 percent U is used toNucleusproduce controlled chain reactions.producedTo produce uncontrolled chainby fissionreactions like those that occur innuclear explosions, a mixture of 90percent U235 and ten percent U238 is used.Comparing the Energy from Combustion and from Nuclear FissionThe energy released by nuclear fission is much larger than the energy released by burning wood or fossilfuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. For instance, one pound (.45 kg) of uranium with three percent U235—the mixture used in nuclear power plants—has an amount of energy equal to about 41 tons (36.9 metrictons) of bituminous coal, 8,300 gallons (31,5401 liters) of gasoline, or 87 tons (78.3 metric tons) of wood.Why is the energy from nuclear fission so much greater than from burning wood or fossil fuels? The nuclearbonds holding the neutrons and protons in the nuclei together are much, much stronger than the chemicalbonds that hold the molecules in wood and fossil fuels together. The stronger the bonds, the more energyis stored in them. In addition, breaking nuclear bonds changes a small amount of the mass in a u
describe how a nuclear reactor uses nuclear energy to produce electricity; and formulate an opinion about using nuclear energy. Rationale Understanding how energy is obtained from nuclear fission and how it is used to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant teaches students how some of the electricity they use is produced. Materials
3. The Role of Nuclear in Energy System Decarbonisation 13 3.1. Energy from Nuclear Fission 14 3.2. Cost Competitiveness of Energy from Nuclear 17 Energy from Nuclear to Support Decarbonisation of Electricity 21 3.3.1. Energy from Nuclear to Provide Mid-Merit Electricity 21 3.4. Energy from Nuclear for Heat, Hydrogen and Synthetic Fuels 22 3.4 .
Nuclear energy is widely used in the military to power submarines and aircraft carriers. Nuclear power plants aboard naval vessels offer great reliability and allow ships and submarines to sail for long periods of time without refueling. Nuclear weapons use U235 or plutonium to produce nuclear explosions. Nuclear energy also
Nuclear Chemistry What we will learn: Nature of nuclear reactions Nuclear stability Nuclear radioactivity Nuclear transmutation Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion Uses of isotopes Biological effects of radiation. GCh23-2 Nuclear Reactions Reactions involving changes in nucleus Particle Symbol Mass Charge
Guide for Nuclear Medicine NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATION OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE. Jeffry A. Siegel, PhD Society of Nuclear Medicine 1850 Samuel Morse Drive Reston, Virginia 20190 www.snm.org Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Guide for NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATION OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE. Abstract This reference manual is designed to assist nuclear medicine professionals in .
Nuclear energy will cause a proliferation of nuclear weapons. Truth. Commercial plants do not have bomb-grade materials . It is easier to enrich natural uranium. Nuclear Myths: Nuclear Weapons. 18. Nuclear Myths: High Operating Cost. Nuclear is the lowest of all (except hydro) Myth.
Progress Energy nuclear plant overview Brunswick Nuclear Plant Robinson Nuclear Plant Crystal River 3 Nuclear Plant Harris Nuclear Plant. 5 In the 1960s, then-CP&L began investigating the Harris site for construction of a possible nuclear power plant. From the Triangle area's rapid growth, additional electricity was clearly needed to meet the .
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development teams. In Agile Product Management with Scrum, you’ll see how a product owner differs from a traditional product manager having a greater level of responsibility for the success of the product. The book clearly outlines and contrasts the different behav-iors between the traditional and the agile role.
